While I enjoy grabbing a bun just like the next guy, my first and only instinct is to say “No”.
Let’s start with the obvious, shall we?
A hamburger is called a hamburger and a sandwich a sandwich.
Really, that should suffice as my argument, but to be nitpicky, a Reuben isn’t called a sandwich and that’s one of the best sandwiches there are.
Both foods may be described in the same fashion, so I think that’s where the confusion comes from.
Both are usually comprised of bread, meat, a vegetable of some sort, cheese, and toppings.
This simplified ingredient list could easily be for a sandwich or a hamburger/cheeseburger but the main difference is the choice of meat.
When you order a hamburger, you are expecting to receive some kind of ground beef like ground chuck, sirloin, or if you’re really lucky, you’ll get Piedmontese beef. You’re expecting your burger to be slightly greasy, piping hot, and topped with tomato, lettuce, ketchup, and maybe a special sauce. Maybe even accompanied by a side of fries.
If you order a sandwich, you’re only expecting a few of the same things.
Right off the gate you are not expecting grilled hamburger meat of any kind. You might be expecting shaved turkey, ham, corned beef, hard salami, and the list goes on and on, but you are not expecting hamburger meat.
A hamburger comes on some sort of hamburger bun, be it sesame seed, wheat, or whatever, the type of bread is us usually followed by “bun”. How many sandwiches do you order on a “bun”? Sandwiches are more versatile here (and other places which make sandwiches superior; one woman’s opinion) as they may be ordered on a variety of bread options ranging from regular bread slices to fancy rolls.
You may or may not expect your sandwich to be greasy, but I’d like to know what kind of sandwich you’re ordering.
You may order your sandwich hot, but you may also order it cold. Your hamburger can’t (and shouldn’t) do that.
You may top your sandwich with lettuce, cheese, tomato, and a special sauce, but unless you know something I don’t, you probably won’t be topping it with ketchup. Mustard, however, is acceptable.
Both sandwiches and hamburgers are delicious hand foods, and I agree they are rather similar. I say we settle the great debate by claiming them cousins; from the same family, but definitely different.
